When To Refuse Chemo

This is a loaded question and one easier to answer when the patient is elderly than when he or she is a child. In the news the past few days has been a horribly sad story of an eleven year old boy with leukemia forced to undergo chemo for the second time in his young life. I can't for the life of me see any alternative at this point because he is so young and it seems that everything possible must be done to save his life even if the chances are slim.

He and his parents don't want the treatment. His parents want his last days to be peaceful and the child just isn't capable of understanding the consequences of refusing treatment. The doctors know there is a chance they can cure him so they are ethically forced to insist this little boy be given poisonous drugs which make him terribly sick.

There was a demonstration outside the hospital by the parents and their supporters and it's very hard to disagree with them...but...the treatment might work and he might die very soon without it. There's no easy way out.

Miracles do happen and even though this little boy is in essence being put through torture right now how can anyone take away his last chance to live out a normal lifespan? Like I said, it's easier to give in to the inevitable if you've already reached old age. My heart aches for the boy and his family. I believe their hearts are in the right place but they've obviously given up hope and that goes against the grain when you consider how young this child is. We have to believe in the amazing ability of the human body to renew itself and we have to believe in miracles.

My heart also hurts for the medical personnel who are treating the boy. They know the chemo will make him sick and miserable but they also know there's that slight chance it will work this time. It's impossible for them to turn their backs and walk away without trying once again.

I've seen the effects of chemo on the human body because my husband had it. It can be devastating but you do survive. That a young child has to endure it is hard to take but if it's his only chance then I feel it has to be done. If it fails and he passes away his parents will never forgive the doctors for what they put their child through but, if it gives them just a bit more time with their little boy, they'll understand why the choice was taken out of their hands.

I hope so much that this eleven year old boy sails through his chemo and lives long enough to play with his grandchildren. I hope what he is going through today will be worth it. We have to have hope and we have to believe in miracles.